Table of contentsIntroductionSustainable transport proposalsSustainable transport in the EUSustainable transport in the UKConclusionIntroductionSustainability is one of the few ideas in society that benefits from a support in the political and ideological aisles, or so it seems. How to go about it is another topic that is often debated among academics, advocates, and conservatives who argue that sustainability can be achieved without harming business growth (Gunther, 2015). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay There are several definitions of sustainability depending on the origin of the literature, but the definition considered to be the most universal is that of the Report of United Nations 1987, “Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future” or commonly known as the Brundtland Report. The UN report consolidated the definition of sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the well-being of future generations” (Cassen, 1987). Sustainable transportation, the main theme of this report, can also be defined alongside the normal definition of sustainability, a source of transportation that does not rely on diminishing natural resources such as oil and gas (Low, 2003). Sustainable transport, unlike sustainability in general, is narrower and this means it is often visible and discussed. The European Commission has published its White Paper on sustainable transport with the aim of reducing traffic congestion and pollution risks (EU, 2012). Many EU countries, in particular, have undertaken to implement sustainable transport in different areas. Some EU countries have been applauded for implementing sound and pro-sustainable transport policies. The report aims to discuss sustainable transport as a policy and its implementation across the EU, particularly in the UK. Some of these discussions will include country-specific innovations and programs that promote sustainable transportation in one form or another. The focus on the UK is limited to its progress in implementing these policies and what it is lacking compared to other European countries. He will also devote time to discussing cycling, as it is one of the most promoted forms of sustainable transport in EU member states. Sustainable Transportation Proposals This is a section dedicated to the most popular proposals that have been promoted as plausible, effective and yet sustainable. Some of these proposals include discouraging the use of public transportation, investing in public transportation, promoting bicycle use and carpooling programs in areas that do not have access to public transportation according to the study (BBC, 2006). Besides cycling, a form of transportation that is heavily encouraged today, there are other sources of energy that can be used, as some opponents of cycling argue that it is only viable over short distances, because the Long-distance travel is still done by traditional means of transport such as cars and trucks. Some of the alternatives to oil and gas include hydrogen, electricity, biofuels, solar energy and nuclear energy (Evans, 2011). Among the list, solar and electricity stand out as they have proven to be commercially viable. This can be seen in the explosion and adoption of electric cars in recent years. Although their adoption is notnot comparable to that of fossil combustion vehicles, their growth increases every year. It has also been predicted that electric cars will increase to 125 million cars sold by 2030 (DiChristopher, 2018). policies aimed at better meeting the needs of today without compromising the well-being of future generations. The European Commission has highlighted in a recent report (European Commission, 2018) some of the major challenges it faces in transport and this includes congestion, dependence on oil, greenhouse gas emissions, while it has set itself the goal of reducing emissions by 60% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. Not only has the EU pushed these targets, but it has also invested heavily, for example by funding the Mechanism for a connected Europe to the tune of more than 26 billion euros (European Commission, 2018). Another bold move by the EU was its “European Union” initiative. Cycling strategy. Recommendations for green growth and efficient mobility in 2030,” a document finalized in 2017 by the EU with goals such as: Cycling should be an equal form of transport. Increase cycling by 50% in all Member States by 2030. results in half of deaths or injuries among members by 2030. Increase investment in “cycling” to €3 billion over 2021 -2027; and 6 billion euros from 2028 to 2034” (European Cyclists’ Federation, 2017). Despite the EU's bold ambitions, several white papers and reports aimed at improving transport and the environment have found, some of its member states have been more progressive in their implementation than the targets set by the EU. Some of these progressive states include Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, France, and Denmark. Germany is the largest country in the EU in terms of population, but has around 83 million people (Oliphant, 2017), but has been one of the biggest supporters of the policy. sustainable transportation and it has been quite aggressive in its goals. Their goal is to reduce gas emissions by 40% by 2020 and 95% by 2050 compared to 1990 levels. This goal, while aggressive and ambitious, has implemented policies to ensure that objectives are achieved on time (Sünder, 2017). Germany has successfully built a robust network of high-quality trains that is currently used daily by more than 30 million people, a figure projected to grow. Per Sünder (2018) “Successes in Germany are based on solid knowledge, strategies and innovations such as software experts to pilot the trains; bike share model planners; and developers of climate-resilient concrete. » Like other European countries, France is also working to improve its transport system and is setting ambitious goals. A good demonstration of this is the introduction of the individual public transport system called Vélib, also known as freedom bikes (Feng, Affonso and Zolghadri, 2017). These bikes allow people to pay a small fee to use them, and after use, they can be parked at any station (Tironi, 2014). In addition, the city of Paris has built more than 300 kilometers of cycle paths, prioritized pedestrians by renovating public spaces, built new pedestrian crossings and added more space on sidewalks; these policies increased cycling by 48% in 2007 according to (Sustainable Transport Award, 2007). The Netherlands has been hailed as one of the most eco-friendly countries for pro-environmental stancewhich they have adopted for some time (Balch, 2013). This is understandable if we compare its achievements to those of other EU member states. Some of these achievements include its goal of making public transport buses 100% emission-free by 2025 (Dutch Ministry of General Affairs, 2016) or the fact that it is closer to achieving its sustainability goals (Central Office Dutch Statistics, 2018). Cycling also plays an important role in the ecological image that the Netherlands has cultivated. This is not without evidence since 70% of the inhabitants of cities like Amsterdam and The Hague cycle (BBC, 2013). This has been possible thanks to investments made by the Dutch government in infrastructure across the country, which has made cycling the most cost-effective means of transport in the UK. The city of Groningen is a good example: the central station has an underground car park that can accommodate more than 10,000 bicycles (BBC, 2013). Denmark is also another country that enjoys a similar reputation to the Netherlands. These two countries are often discussed in the same magnitude when discussing sustainability because some of their green policies are analogous to each other, particularly in their larger cities (Krag, 2002). Some cycling statistics in Denmark can help explain why this country is considered a green transport paradise. Some of these statistics provided by (Denmark Cycling Embassy, ​​2010) include: 24% of all trips less than 5 km in Denmark are by bicycle 45% of Danish children cycle to school 44% of Danes do not own a car Finally, Spain, France's southern neighbor, is also another country that has done much to adhere to policies favorable to eco-friendly transportation. This is evident from some of his policies which will be discussed shortly. The first is the Urban Mobility Plan approved by Madrid City Hall in 2014, which aims to reduce 3.2 million kilometers traveled on public roads, reduce road traffic by 2020 and reduce 135,000 tonnes of CO2 by Eltis (2014). Around the same time, the EU invested €5.5 billion in the Spanish economy, with this money earmarked for investments in green transport and sustainability at all levels (European Commission, 2015). This is also the case for Valencia, which promotes sustainability as part of its smart city strategy (Match Up Project EU, 2018). Barcelona has also implemented a plan called “BARCELONA SUSTAINABLE URBAN MOBILITY PLAN (2013-2018)”. which has set goals such as adding 210 kilometers of cycle paths (Blanchar, 2015), new orthogonal bus lanes and its main objective is called the Superblocks (Agencia de Ecología Urbana de Barcelona, ​​​​2012) . This is a bold plan that involves restricting traffic from Barcelona's squares and directing it to some larger roads in order to achieve a 21% traffic reduction and 60% less traffic in the Eixample district (Vives, 2018).Sustainable transport in the United KingdomThe history of sustainable transport in the United Kingdom is very different from that of other European capitals. Some initiatives have been put forward or encouraged, but there does not appear to be a national plan to improve transport across the UK. London has, however, been a protagonist in promoting sustainable transport in the UK. In 2003, the city introduced the congestion pricing plan which increased fees for motorcycles and implemented emissions-based tolls citywide (Sustainable Transport Award Committee, n.d.). Before the plan, drivers spent 50% of their time..